In recent years, the entertainment industry has had several of its notable figures come forward to proudly reveal what has always been true in their hearts. Celebs like Ricky Martin, Lance Bass, Neil Patrick Harris among others have proven that in today's day and age, gay is more than okay in Hollywood.

Which is why it gives us great pleasure to share that after years of remaining privately content with his sexuality, Anderson Cooper has revealed officially to the world that he is a gay man.

He spoke directly to The Daily Beast and said:

.. I've always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly. As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn't matter. …

Recently, however, I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle…

The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.

I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist.

Hi Perez. I read the piece by Andrew Sullivan. Anderson makes it clear that he is speaking out to curb continuing social biases. But at the same time, states that he is not an activist, respects his personal life (sexuality aside), and does not want to compromise his foreign reporting. I think you should have respect and not make this a spectacle. He was asked, answered, and let's move on.

it's just a shame that people like Anderson, Ricky, Ellen and Neil all have to have a certain amount of success before they "come out" I will applaud the day that America and the world can make a Homosexual in the entertainment industry successful from word go without having to hide it before the $$$ can start rolling in.

Personally I don't think it's anyones business. It's his personal life. He doesn”t own anyone black, white, gay, or straight anything. As far as I am concerned he could have lived his life as he deemed fit and never "officially" said a word.

In addition, if a famous person choses to keep there sexual orientation to themselves, that's their prerogative. It isn't fair to say that they only came out after they gained a certain level of success. There is no law stating that anyone HAS to disclose there sexual orientation.

So how can the gays have "always" been looking to Cooper as a leader when he's been too ashamed to admit his gay publicly until now? How can he lead a group that he won't admit he's a member of? Are you really that stupid, Perez? Oh, wait. It is YOU, so the answer is clearly "yes." He's not prepared to be an activist, so he's not a leader. He is a man who is a journalist who just happens to be gay. What he does with his dick is not the sum and total of who he is. He does not obsess about being gay and what it all means. He has a life, he has a career he loves, and his private life is his private life. He sets an example that YOU should follow, and really, what you need to take away from all this is that you need to STFU about it all.

Anderson says: "I do think there is value in standing up and being counted."

This, among other reasons, is why high profile people come out of the closet. It has nothing to do with feeling the need to tell straight people. Straight people probably don't care and really - shouldn't.

Why high profile people such as celebrities, politicians, etc. come out and should come out - is for GAY people who live in fear in this society that if they are true to themselves and come out then their lives will be ruined. These people show that is not the case. They come out to be role models for gay youth who feel afraid and alone. It puts a public face on a gay person who is successful and happy.

Straight people who say "Why did he need to tell everybody!" Well - there is your answer. It has nothing to do with you.

Good for him that he finally felt comfortable enough to come out publicly. I think most everyone has known for several years and his fans have no issue with it. I don't think this will have any negative effect on his career whatsoever.

I met him at a cocktail party several years ago in the Hamptons, he was there with his (not the one he wit now) boyfriend. This didn't seem to be news back then to anyone who was at that party. Nor is it really news now. This man has earned the right to his privacy. Let's, let him have it.

I'm not sure what the BIG deal is here. So he's gay, does that him make a lesser person? Why is it that he has to confirm that he is gay, it is no ones business but his and his partner. I for one love Anderson and never miss his shows and I am 73 yrs young. I especially love the love he has for his mom and he isn't afraid to show it….I especially enjoy the shows when he has her on.

Re: Mad Dog – Just like we all already knew that you were an idiot! Anyways, this isn't shocking news but I am happy for him that've felt comfortable enough to officially come out. Why someone has to officially divulge something personal is beyond me. They are probably trying to avoid the spectacle the media makes of ich things as they are now. Gay or straight, Anderson will always be the silver fox!!

serious question,,, many of you and mario have said your "are proud" What did YOU have to do with it. you may be happy he came out, but as for being proud, that is just rediculous. breaking news,,, I'm straight, should i be proud that I'm out, are you proud of me?? The man stated a FACT , what is to be proud? What difference does it make who any body fucks? I like women, he likes men,,, so what.

Re: Omniscient Gal – So, which is it? Was he "too ashamed to come out"? Or was it that his personal life is his own business? You really can't have it both ways. The fact that he chose not to make a public announcement doesn't mean that he "was ashamed." He was, in fact, out to family, friends and colleagues - those who really matter in the scheme of things.

I never understand the rationale of these homophobes posting on this thread. Sometimes they condemn gay people for coming out of the closet. You say they have no reason to come out, and that they should keep it to themselves; not everyone needs to be concerned with your sexuality. Then, in times like these, you say he is ashamed of being gay because he didn't have the balls to come out of the closet sooner.

Will you PLEASE pick a position and stick with it? At least put up the facade that you actually have an idea of what you're talking about.

Re: raypearson – I think when Perez and others say they are "proud" Anderson came out, they mean that Anderson is successful and well-liked. They like that Anderson has something in common with them. The REAL truth is that Anderson is NOT flamboyant. He doesn't dye his hair pink or make videos of himself dancing around in his underwear with his mother.

This is really wonderful and congrats to him for his bravery! I really hope Oscar Wilde (who basically DIED IN PRISON as horrible punishment for being HONEST and PUBLIC about his orientation) is somehow, somewhere knowing about all this wonderful modern embracing of people such as he! To my friends who died of AIDS long before the stigma had been removed I do hope they have some comfort SOMEHOW in knowing — THE TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN A CHANGING FOR THE BETTER!

Anderson Cooper…. Gay…????
NO…. never would have guessed that one….
Anyway, To tell you all the truth … I could care less… Good for him, if he's happy that is all that matters. His sexual orientation is certainly NONE of my business. His 'coming out' will not change my television viewing habits (I don't watch his show(s) anyway). But truly people, if he's happy with his life then that is all that matters.
Have a nice day, All…… or is that 'Y'all'…..

Should NEWS People, like judges, recluse themselves when the story involves them personally? Should they be required to give a disclaimer? Or in the case of Anderson Cooper, should the viewer know or expect a certain slant of the news because of his sexual preference? I'm happy to officially hear that Cooper is out of the closet, because it supports my suspicions in the way he slanted many of the stories he covered. The bigger NEWS flash would be if Cooper is proud enough to tell us if he is the dominant or submissive one or if he likes them young. Could it be that his sexual confusion is caused by the fact Hormone-Mimics in plastic water bottles act as Functional Estrogens? Is Cooper actually a product of drinking too much bottled water?

Shane Redway -- a Canadian rapper and close friend of Drake's -- was killed early Saturday morning in a car crash. He was just 26 years old.

Redway and two others were killed when their car lost control, struck a guardrail and burst into flames. The crash occurred around 4am outside Pearson International Airport in Toronto. It's unclear who was behind the wheel. Police are investigating the crash.

Drake took to Instagram to remember Redway, posting two different tributes.